Criminal Justice and Corrections at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas

Similar criminal justice programs in Arkansas suggest first-year earnings around $36,000—slightly above the national median for this credential. With an estimated debt load of $12,000 (well below both the state and national typical debt for this degree), this represents a manageable 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates would owe roughly four months of their first year's salary, which is considerably better than the typical associate's degree holder in this field.

What works in this program's favor is the debt picture. While Arkansas criminal justice programs typically saddle graduates with over $25,000 in loans, Phillips' estimated borrowing sits at less than half that amount. Community colleges generally keep costs down, and that advantage appears to hold here. The estimated earnings align closely with what University of Arkansas Grantham and Arkansas Tech graduates actually report, suggesting the career prospects are reasonably consistent across the state.

The caveat: both the earnings and debt figures are estimates drawn from peer institutions because Phillips' graduate cohort was too small to report. If you're considering this program, verify current tuition costs and ask about actual job placement rates. For a family watching every dollar, an associate's degree that costs $12,000 and leads to $36,000 in earnings is a defensible investment—assuming those estimates hold true and your student can secure employment in the field within a year of graduation.